Taking the protagonist out of his city is as old as the genre
itself. Hammett did it to the Op in RED HARVEST, as Chandler
did to Marlowe in THE LADY IN THE LAKE. I think it's more
than just an author wanting to get his head out of town in
order to get his juices flowing again. By moving the
detective off his turf, the writer is in effect weakening
him, thereby creating natural conflict and suspense. To put
it another way, the city boy's britches don't look so big out
in the country, where he is without allies and on unfamiliar
ground.
George Pelecanos
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